Mich. Comp. Laws § 780.717

Sec. 7. (1) The appellate defender may appoint special assistant appellate defenders to do any of the following: (a) Represent indigent adults or otherwise assist in the representation of indigent adults at any stage of appellate or postconviction proceedings, upon rules adopted by the commission. (b) Represent indigent youth or otherwise assist in the representation of indigent youth at any stage of appellate proceedings, upon rules adopted by the commission. (2) A special assistant appellate defender shall be paid on a contract basis approved by the commission within funds available to the commission. (3) A special assistant appellate defender is not subject to the restrictions on the practice of law applicable to the appellate defender, deputy appellate defender, and assistant appellate defender under section 4.